Urgent Invitation to the Body of Christ
by Congo River Mission Worker – Abraham J. Meintjes
While time moves along and dramatic climatic and seismic changes make us wonder, - and scramble to help in disaster areas, some areas of the globe, such as central Africa, central Asia and the Near and Middle East remain unstable and spiritually dark.
In an age where “spiritual darkness” and “sin” are terms “offensive to the rights of others”, but simultaneously extremely biased to the rights of Christians, certain yard sticks and moral standards still prove very valuable and of greater fruit that last, than other humanly devised and short-lived norms.
There are things in life that we as the human race (created to the glory of YHWH and the edification of one another) can try to resolve after the crisis had occurred, such as the multiple natural disasters of recent times, and then there are certain preventative actions and courses of conduct that might serve us well if we choose to pursue it and choose to persevere in it.
This invitation intends to draw attention to central Africa – as a stabilising and preventative course of action in the list of Great Commission priorities of the international (universal) Body of Christ.
It is not clear to me, - having applied my limited human abilities in efforts to obey a call to preach the Good News of the Living God who earnestly wishes to call all men to Him, to isolated communities along the Congo River and its tributaries, - why the Church continue to neglect central Africa.
True, those are not “nice” areas to work in. It is hot, communications and travel are difficult. Food is unusual. Cross cultural interaction does not respond to any “developed and proven” standards. The Simba Rebellion, for example, endeared no one. Corruption reigns.
Yet, our neglect of 2010 years had left regions isolated from the developed and developing world. Deprived of the privilege and perhaps even an entitlement, to know God, accept Salvation and to live a contextualised life-style of civil and productive purpose.
Sitting and working amongst villagers and African city folk, and outsiders, I often hear: “Keep them poor”. “The meek shall inherit the earth”. “You can do nothing without the white man”. “The Church did not teach us self-sufficiency”. “They take our land minerals”. “They bribe our leaders”. “It is our culture.” “Years of misery”. “God has forgotten about Africa long ago” …
In my exposure to Africa since 1984, I come to the conclusion that “equipping” some African leaders and societies does not enable them to progress. Too many cultural and traditional influences, lack of economic development and an absence of international inter-action, and the lack of faith, hope and love which would be conveyed by John 3:16, Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 28:18-20 and Romans 12:1-2, for example, - leave them trapped, bound and paralysed, and very frustrated.
While ecumenism, inter-faith tolerance, world peace, Lausanne III, the comfortable and apathetic Church, global warming, Gulf destruction, international disaster control, and extreme diplomacy occupy headlines and TV screens – central Africa remains … dark. Unstable.
The daily breeding ground of political upheaval, Blood Diamonds, Conflict Minerals, arms smuggling and rebel activity.
Are we really serious about stabilising the world environment if such loud screaming, continuous appeals and tardy neglect by the world remain apparent?
The Church is the moral agent of society. The face of Africa reflects the character of its leadership in the Church and Civil government, and of its people. It is not a Godly face, nor is it an encouraging experience!
Communism, humanism, socialism and post modern society might have temporary appeal to masses and societies (history proves it to be temporary and of no lasting fruit), but Christianity did serve to stabilise confused masses, bring about science, education, moral and ethical values and encourage progress.
There are wonderful and appealing debates out there – many aimed at rape, pillage and destruction of order or for selective and exclusive gain. It would appear as if only Christianity, accepting for a moment its mistakes, flaws and indulgences, really calmed and built up societies.
Lest then we pretend to be clever, yet prove foolish – should we not focus some attention, resources and responsible guidance to central Africa?
My appeal has a number of reasons in motivation: God’s will is that all mankind be saved. They deserve to hear (and, like all the world, may choose to disregard) the Good News of Salvation and the advice towards God’s Law for moral and holy living.
If we are consistent regarding international “rights”, then the children, women and people of central Africa also deserve those benefits.
If we are serious about world order, and if Africa chooses to heed prophecy and prepare itself to be the spiritual and physical bread (and mineral/ resources) basket of the world, then the developed world and the Body of Christ might choose to act in insight, wisdom and responsibility towards central Africa regions.
My area of mission focus is the Congo River, its tributaries and Kisangani. The undeveloped potential for generating hydro-electricity, farming, agriculture, a well developed Congo River transport and commercial system, river-side tourism, and developing Kisangani as a central African hub port remain dormant while people suffer, women are raped, and resources are exploited by the developed world - while the Church looks on, perhaps in the spirit of Revelation 17 and 18.
In the mean time I pray to persevere in the challenging Congo River Mission work before me. Please pray about what you must do for central Africa or how I could help to bring light and Good News.
I have an unpleasant duty. In 2007 an older man named Xenon walked far to Kinshasa to personally come and tell me about isolated villages along the Kasai River who have never had any visitors form the outside world, nor have they heard the Gospel being preached to them (in accordance with Romans 10:13-15).
It is now 2010. After much research and ground work, I have recently but covered 135 km of the Congo River by dugout canoe, and had perhaps reached 1000 isolated souls with the Good News, of which people 450 accepted the salvation and hope of Jesus Christ, and pray to walk in a new morality.
I am not near the Kasai River yet. The work needs a harbour and to refurbish a building at Yakusu mission, a dedicated riverboat as mobile mission platform, and international co-operative partners in the Church and mission organisations, - please.
There are an estimated 14 000 km of riverbanks and 18 million isolated and deep rural dwellers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo River basin areas. How shall the remaining 17 999 000 souls and 13 865 km along the rivers be reached and deep rural communities be stabilised through encouragement, without someone preaching to them?
In the mean time, I will communicate with missionary minded but ill equipped friends in Kinshasa to send a runner with a cleft stick or a bicycle, to brother Xenon down towards the Kasai River, to apologise sincerely to old and dying people in isolated villages, who have not heard the Good News despite so much opportunity in church and mission, - as the world and the Church are still having meetings.
How shall central Africa be saved, live, contribute and share in the stability of the global environment without our tangible and encouraging involvement?
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